These are very sad days for Venezuela and for Latin America. It is a tragedy when governments, left or right, don’t stand up for democracy.

I began my career and my love for Latin America in Venezuela over 40 years ago. The country was safe, democratic and prosperous. Today, it is none of the above. And as citizens’ wishes at the ballot box are being ignored, they are instead voting with their feet.

Over 8 million people have left the country and given the election result at least another 4 million are expected to immigrate. And they are immigrating to find work, basic healthcare, education for their children as well as food and clean water. Things that we take for granted and are top of mind on all our agendas.